A Tennis Party Poisoning

St. Martha’s Catholic Church, 1986. Courtesy Strathfield Council

Tennis, anyone?

On 3 July 1954 a tennis competition at the St Martha’s Catholic Tennis Club in Strathfield went horribly wrong when 30 people were taken violently ill during afternoon tea. When the urn needed refilling, the court captain, Benjamin Matthies, had found a new-looking watering can and filled it with water from a tap. Unfortunately, the watering can had been used just that morning to spread weed killer around the courts. Players and spectators collapsed after drinking their tea and were rushed to local hospitals. Detectives were called to investigate. One player, Brenda Finn, remained in St. Vincent’s Hospital several days later but all players and spectators fortunately recovered.[1] Detectives attributed the catastrophe to an accidental mass arsenic poisoning.

The Strathfield district probably boasts more private tennis courts than most Sydney suburbs, but once had even more. Tennis parties and competitions were popular activities from the late 19th Century onwards and many grand houses had their own court. Larger tournaments were played at the Strathfield Sports Club in Morwick Street which had been formed in 1881 as the Union Recreation Club.[2] The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser of 11 October 1905 featured photos of ladies and gentlemen during a Strathfield tournament at the Club, watched by a large, beautifully-dressed crowd.[3] How Miss Bremer played in a long dress and fancy hat was an impressive feat in itself!

The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser 11 October 1905 p.923

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/164999453

The Metropolitan Catholic Lawn Tennis Association was inaugurated during February 1922 [4] and St Martha’s Tennis Club was established soon afterwards. The land, on which three courts stood, was donated to the parish during the 1940s and the children of St. Martha’s School now use these areas for tennis and other activities.[5]

St. Martha’s Primary School, 16 April 2020. Courtesy Strathfield Local Studies

 

When Arthur Rickard & Co. offered lots for sale in Barker and Newton Roads during August 1926, The Sun newspaper noted that ‘Homeseekers should be interested because each allotment is big enough to allow space for a garden and full-sized tennis court. This suburb contains most of the enthusiastic gardeners and tennis players in the metropolitan area, so that those who wish to live in Strathfield will be doubly suited.’[6]

No photos of the disastrous poisoned tennis competition have been located but the Metropolitan Grass Court Tennis Championships were held in Strathfield just a few months later in early October when Davis Cup players Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewall took part. This photo shows Miss B. Jones (left) being congratulated by Miss N. Miller after their match on 4 October 1954. Miss Jones won 6-3, 6-0. Thankfully the ladies’ tennis attire was considerably more practical than Miss Bremer’s outfit in 1905.

Miss B. Jones (left) being congratulated by Miss N. Miller, 4 October 1954.
Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy ACP Magazines Ltd.

 

By J.J. MacRitchie
Local Studies Advisor

 

References

[1] Sun 7 July 1954 p.28 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229710136

 

[2] Jones, Cathy ‘Strathfield Sports Club’ – Strathfield Heritage https://strathfieldheritage.com/recreation-and-shops/strathfield-sports-club/

 

[3] The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser 11 October 1905 p.923 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/164999453

 

[4] Freeman’s Journal 22 February 1923 p.17 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116728144

 

[5] ‘Historic land is now a versatile play area’ | St Martha’s Catholic Primary School Strathfield (syd.catholic.edu.au) https://stmstrathfield.syd.catholic.edu.au/news/historic-land-now-versatile-play-area

 

[6] Sun 20 August 1926 p.12 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222727927